Posted!

Join the Conversation

Comments

Welcome to our new and improved comments, which are for subscribers only.
This is a test to see whether we can improve the experience for you.
You do not need a Facebook profile to participate.

You will need to register before adding a comment.
Typed comments will be lost if you are not logged in.

Please be polite.
It's OK to disagree with someone's ideas, but personal attacks, insults, threats, hate speech, advocating violence and other violations can result in a ban.
If you see comments in violation of our community guidelines, please report them.

Story Highlights

Seven candidates are competing for four seats on the Gilbert Town Council in next month's primary election.

Early voting begins at the end of this month.

The seven-member Town Council sets policies directly impacting Gilbert residents, from parks to road projects.

In an at-large race, meaning candidates represent the town as a whole and not specific districts, it's not as easy as winning a simple majority of the vote. (See formula in box on Page 4.)

If no winners are declared in the primary, it heads to the general election in November where candidates with the highest number of votes win.

The field of candidates includes three incumbents — Eddie Cook, Jordan Ray and Victor Petersen — and four challengers — Jason Cvancara, Brigette Peterson, Tim Rinesmith and TJ Tillman.

The Gilbert Republic will profile candidates in this week's editions, starting today with Cvancara and Petersen. Look for profiles on Cook and Brigette Peterson on Friday and Ray, Rinesmith and Tillman on Saturday. All the profiles are available at gilbert.azcentral.com.

Independent voters who are on the permanent early-voting list should have received a card from the Maricopa County elections office. They need to return that card to vote early in the primary. Because they are independent or did not designate a party, they need to either select a political party or ask for a town/city ballot only, which is nonpartisan.

To get a card, call the county elections office at 602-506-1551 and request either a party ballot or one that only lists municipal candidates.

The process begins by counting the number of votes cast in the primary and dividing by the number of open seats. That number is divided by two, which provides the number of votes a candidate must exceed to be elected in the primary.

For example, if seven candidates receive a total of 34,000 votes, that number divided by four (the number of vacant seats) is 8,500. Divide that by two and you get 4,250. If a candidate receives more than 4,250 votes, he or she is elected outright. Otherwise, the race continues to the general election in November.